Rome - Pope Francis exhorted today sportsmen to avoid the consumption of prohibited substances as to reach ''ugly and sterile'' victories, as resul of the doping.

Also he qualified of ugly victory obtained with 'foul plays, violating the norms and cheating others'.

According to the Pontiff, the sportsmen have a mission to fulfill, to be for all their admirers a model to be followed.

A way that also must be followed by sport leaders and trainers 'called to provide a good example of the human values' for being 'teachers of a sport practice that is always loyal and clean'.

Finally, he cheered each of the participants in the hearing to do their best in sport and also in the life to seek, this way, 'the good, the real good, without fear, with courage and enthusiasm'.